Five heartless young people who allegedly savagely beat and stabbed a homeless man Thursday evening, at the Lionel-Groulx metro station, in the Saint-Henri district, were arrested by Montreal police officers.
If we initially believed that it could be a gratuitous attack, the investigation has so far established that the crime could be linked to a drug case, said the head of the section. SPVM metro station, Johanne Matte, on QUB airwaves.
The attack could even have been premeditated, according to our information.
MAXIME DELAND/AGENCE QMI
The youngest suspect is only 13 years old. His alleged accomplices are 14, 15, 17 and 18 years old.
Savage aggression
According to our information, the homeless man was allegedly beaten by the five young people with punches and telescopic sticks, in addition to being stabbed.
- Listen to Yasmine Abdelfadel’s news editorial via QUB :
He was unconscious following the attack, but regained consciousness when emergency services arrived.
He was taken to hospital for treatment of significant but non-life-threatening injuries.
MAXIME DELAND/AGENCE QMI
Shortly after the events, the police arrested four of the five young people allegedly involved in the beating. The fifth suspect, aged 14, was arrested on Friday, the day after the events.
According to our sources, the youngest of the group, aged only 13, had recently appeared before the youth chamber in a domestic violence case.
Just a few hours after the attack targeting the homeless man, the daughter of columnist Richard Martineau was also attacked at the Lionel-Groulx station. She was allegedly punched in the face for no reason by a homeless woman.
Watch Richard Martineau’s comments on the assault of his daughter in the Montreal metro during his episode at QUB :
Very young criminals
This is the second time in a week that teenagers have been involved in a very violent crime in the metropolis.
Last Thursday, two teenagers aged 14 and 16 allegedly shot at two motorists chosen at random, in the Rosemont district and on the Plateau Mont-Royal.
The two young people, who were probably traveling in a stolen vehicle, then lost their lives during their flight after driving into a tree on the edge of rue Saint-Zotique.
Photo Agence QMI, Maxime Deland
This is also not the first time that very young men have been arrested for violent crimes committed in the Montreal metro. As recently as mid-February, two 14-year-old teenagers were arrested for a series of armed robberies committed against metro users. Some of their crimes were committed at the point of an imitation firearm. The young people did not hesitate to use violence to rob their victims.
- Listen to Richard Martineau’s comments on the podcast on the attack on his daughter in the Montreal metro during his episode at QUB :
No fewer than 54 charges were brought against them following their arrest.